Business Counselor
(Guam SBDC)
Jesse S. Lujan, 37, resides in Barrigada with his wife, Mariann T. Lujan and their three children, Brandon 16, Serenity 8, and Zahavah 1. Lujan enjoys outdoor sports and off-roading, but most importantly enjoys spending time with his family.
When asked why he decided to start his own business, Lujan replied, “I have been working in the furniture industry for over 15 years and it has been a lifelong dream to owning my own company. When the opportunity arose, I did not hesitate to take that leap.” With over 15 years in the furniture industry, he has worked on office designing, sales, and installation. Lujan has had the opportunity to deal with many different manufacturers and different types of furnishing. Furnishings vary from rotating files systems, cubicles, free standing desks and seating to pallet racking and shelving. He has also worked on IT items as well as construction. In his experience then and now, he has dealt with different entities including the federal and local government as well as the private sector.
The Small Business Development Center played a pivotal role in the start of his business planning. With the help and expertise of Fred Granillo, he received guidance in creating his business plan, understanding the tax process, and all the basic needs in starting his own business. SBDC also helped him with the SBA loan applications and processes.
Lujan describes the start-up process. “In the beginning it was quite intimidating. There were so many things that I needed to do in order to get started. Start off capital is important when starting a business. This I would say was my biggest hurdle, as when I started I no longer had the residual income I was used to when I was just an employee. Much of the start-up funding came from our family savings. It was a sacrifice for my family and me during this time. But we knew that in the long run it will pay-off.”
When Lujan first started his business, funding came from family savings that were intended to use for a family vacation this past summer. With the help of SBDC and SBA, he was able to acquire a credit line with Bank of Guam. One of the biggest challenges, Lujan stated, was getting the word out that he was in business. Being a new name and a new business, he had to work harder to establish his clients. When there are challenges, triumph is usually just around the corner. For Lujan, his most memorable triumph was when he received his first job from Nanbo’s Insurance, just a week after he officially opened. This opportunity gave him the confidence that things will go well.
In every business, there are goals to be made and accomplished. Lujan stated that his short-term plans for Office Creativity include establishing more consistent marketing strategies so customers are aware that they have another option for all their office needs. His long-term plans include expanding office space and carrying inventory for immediate customer needs.
We asked Lujan “What advice would you give to others who want to start a business at this time?” He responded, “Follow your intuition and believe in yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and most of all take advantage of the programs available through SBDC. Overall, don’t be afraid to take chances and jump on opportunities when they arise.”
For more information about Small Business Development Center contact (671)735-2590 or visit our website at www.pacificsbdc.com.
